When the ancestors of the Pearsoll family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Staffordshire, at Pearsall, from whence they took their name.

Pearsoll Early Origins

The surname Pearsoll was first found in Staffordshire where they held an estate now known as Pearshall, Peshale or Pershall. "The family are of Norman origin, having been founded a the place referred to by Robert, a follower of Robert of Stafford, early in the reign of the Conqueror." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. Robert Fitz Gilbert de Corbeil, acquired the manor of Peshale, and his son Robert was the first to begin calling himself de Peshale after the name of this manor.

Pearsoll Spelling Variations

Pearsoll Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Pearsoll has been recorded under many different variations, including Pearsall, Pershall, Persall, Parsil, Parcell, Parcel and many more.

Pearsoll Early History

Pearsoll Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pearsoll research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1341, 1374, 1376, 1376, 1531, 1629, 1539, 1795 and 1856 are included under the topic Early Pearsoll History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pearsoll Early Notables (pre 1700)

Pearsoll Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 19 words (1 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pearsoll Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Pearsolls were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Jonas Parshall, who settled in Virginia in 1620; Thomas Pearsall, who arrived in Virginia in 1631; Henry Pearsall, who arrived in Long Island in 1657.

Bede, The Venerable. Historia Ecclesiatica Gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History Of the English People). Available through Internet Medieval Sourcebook the Fordham University Centre for Medieval Studies. Print.

The Pearsoll Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Pearsoll Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.